Paul also said he has spoken to coach Doc Rivers about the possibility of sitting out if Sterling remains in control when the seasons starts in a little more than two months.

Chris Paul says he has spoken to coach Doc Rivers about the possibility of sitting out if Donald Sterling remains in control of the Clippers when the seasons starts in a little more than two months.

"That's something me and Doc are both talking about," Paul said on Thursday after coaching his AAU program, CP3. "Something has to happen, and something needs to happen soon -- sooner rather than later."

Clipperfn4lf

07/25/2014 - 03:07 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1546

votes: 13

It's all an act to put pressure on DTS.

BaadMaster

07/25/2014 - 03:09 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1383

Location: Los Angeles

votes: 11

I don't know whether this is a strategy to show the judge that Donald will own the Titanic if he rules in his favor, thus showing that he is truly nuts; or that we are sailing on dangerous waters with respect to the Clippers as a viable franchise. I can't tell.

I sure wish DTS didn't bamboozle Adam Silver into shelving the takeover vote. If I were Silver, I would schedule it right now, ASAP. Why wait for the courts, who are notoriously slow and inept. Then sell it to Ballmer -- for a hundred dollars and let Sterling beg with a cup, the greedy SOB.

You don't bring a water gun to a gunfight, Mr. Silver.

Dunkathon

07/25/2014 - 04:46 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1449

votes: 11

Silver waits for the courts because as slow as the courts are moving, it's far quicker than if they just voted him out. If Silver and Co. vote him out, then Sterling can sue using anti-trust laws, and that case will take at least a decade.

cleepers

07/25/2014 - 10:02 AM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 9798

votes: 130

BaadMaster wrote:

If I were Silver, I would schedule it right now, ASAP. Why wait for the courts, who are notoriously slow and inept.

You don't bring a water gun to a gunfight, Mr. Silver.

Dunkathon wrote:

Silver waits for the courts because as slow as the courts are moving, it's far quicker than if they just voted him out. If Silver and Co. vote him out, then Sterling can sue using anti-trust laws, and that case will take at least a decade.

Exactly.

Voting him out is the nuclear option. The NBA's stance in this situation reminds me of the cold war philosophy of mutually assured destruction (or "MAD"), where both sides - despite supporting their allies in numerous proxy conflicts around the world - never launched a single one of their vast array of nuclear weapons because they were assured that the enemy would retaliate tenfold and turn the conflict into a war of unimaginable attrition.

The NBA knows that holding that vote will severely damage them as well as Donald. It would be an unprecedented move, subjected to intense legal and media scrutiny. It would be equivalent to the league dropping the first nuke... any move Donald makes afterwards is justified. He actually has a very good point in his pending antitrust suit for damages against them, the complaint citing that he has been treated much differently than other owners, players and officers of the league who have committed similar offences...

Kobe Bryant - the league's most prominent face at the time - called a referee a "fa**ot", for which he received a $50,000 fine and no suspension. Rich DeVos - majority owner of the Orlando Magic - donated huge sums of money to groups fighting equal marriage rights and made very similar comments to Donald's, but with regard to homosexuals and their "need" (or lack thereof) to marry. No punishment was levied by the league.

Now we all understand that in a league populated by around 75% black people, racism will always trump homophobia in terms of outrage, but in a court of law discrimination is discrimination no matter who the victim is, and I have no difficulty in believing that a judge would agree that Sterling was punished with disproportionate harshness.

Fortunately (for now) the antitrust suit is only contesting his fine and ban - because the NBA hasn't actually voted him out yet - but if they do, he will add that to the charges and will stand a fair chance of obtaining an injunction against any sale until the suit is settled. So let's lay off the league for "not acting"... they are undoubtedly supporting Shelly and apparently winning the 'conventional' war from behind the scenes.

There is absolutely no need for them to drop the nuke right now and hasten their own demise. That is exactly what Donald wants them to do, and that's why he is just trying to stall proceedings until the start of the season when the media pressure on them to "act" will reach a fever pitch. If the time comes to 'nuke' him, then so be it... but it will be ugly. If he manages to get an injunction, he will be owner until the case is resolved. The Players' Association will face social and media pressure (from big-mouthed idiots like Jalen Rose) and may take action by boycotting. There is the potential for all hell to break loose.

For two weeks in October 1962, as the Soviets attempted to assemble nuclear arms batteries in Cuba, President Kennedy heard calls from defense hawks to "take action". He was criticized for his cautious stance and lack of will to provide an American "show of force". Those criticisms only intensified when a US spy plane was shot down by the Soviet navy. It was the defining moment of his presidency, and the fact that we are all walking around and breathing today is a testament to his wisdom and restraint, and his understanding of the concept of "MAD".

Twenty-four hours after that U-2 was shot down, a settlement was reached with the Soviets and the conflict ended without another shot being fired.

This is Adam Silver's 'Kennedy moment' and I only hope he shows the same kind of self-discipline in the face of the populist, knee-jerk reactionaries calling for "action".

jarca

07/25/2014 - 10:19 AM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 8694

votes: 40

Hope the entire clippers roster sit out if Sterling is still the owner.

da11da

07/25/2014 - 10:34 AM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 215

votes: 0

If CP3 sits out, the clippers shouldn't move him or deal him. Let him sit on his ass at home and watch his career fade away. The players play for themselves and their fans, NOT the owner. If he doesn't want the money and wants to turn his back on his fans then so be it.

Let's all be very clear here Sterling has always been a racist and no one can argue otherwise. Doc and CP3 knew what Sterling was when they signed their contracts. They knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he was a racist but they still chose to sign their contracts. The only reason they are talking about not coming back is because now it makes them look bad. What a joke.

illastrate

07/25/2014 - 11:27 AM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1647

votes: 13

It won't just be the Clippers sitting out. What about the Clippers' opponents? Other teams will follow suit. This is an NBA issue.

da11da

07/25/2014 - 11:37 AM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 215

votes: 0

They might, but not because Sterling is racist. They might boycott because he hurts their image. Doc, CP3, Blake can care less if Sterling is racist but if they play for him people will say wow how can CP3 play for a racist.

SamMays

07/25/2014 - 11:38 AM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 4150

votes: 58

CP3 is not going to sit out and walk away from 20-million dollars.

What CP3 should do is get with the players association and all agree to boycott all Clippers games, so Clipper players aren't the one holding the bag on this by themselves.

That said, only Donald T. Sterling would be fighting on this sinking ship and bringing it down around him.

da11da

07/25/2014 - 11:42 AM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 215

votes: 0

I agree that would be a better way to handle it but would it not create a slippery slope of the players now choosing who gets to be an owner?

realbull17

07/25/2014 - 12:04 PM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 2604

votes: 6

I think all 30 teams will do it.

SamMays

07/25/2014 - 12:35 PM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 4150

votes: 58

I think Sterling is a unique a*****. Most of the team owners in major sports are either well liked, or well tolerated or completely insulated from the players.

laboy

07/25/2014 - 01:14 PM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 207

votes: 0

You saw the players of golden state,they were willing to walk off the court..

probably most players on all teams will not play..

this is bigger than basketball..

it could be a shortened season...maybe with a a december or january start..which would work in the clippers favor..

once the donald is gone....the clips will have full wind in their sails and cruse into the playoffs..

FightOnRon

07/25/2014 - 01:51 PM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 5212

Location: The Darkside

votes: 40

Those of you that have always wanted to be a STH but could never find a seat to your liking may just have a golden opportunity as I suspect many will be walking out and opening up a lot of seats for anyone that may want them.

worm

07/25/2014 - 05:13 PM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1235

votes: 3

If CP3 is really serious about boycotting NBA games just sit out the whole season without pay same with Lebron ,show the NBA and the owners that this not about all the money and they are fighting for what is right , I don't know if CP3 has the courage to do it .thinking how he will pay the bills remember the owners are not millionares they are billionaires.

Agent0

07/25/2014 - 07:44 PM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 5910

votes: 53

Nope, not at all, slippery slope arguments can only go so far. Players wouldn't just randomly start boycotting any owner they don't like. There's precedent here because almost everyone is against Sterling, the players didn't start it, they would just be joining along.

renshaibob

07/25/2014 - 09:34 PM PST

Clipper All-Star

Posts: 1128

votes: 1

I don't want to see CP3 miss any games but i think you have to keep the pressure on the league until we get our new money man owner.

clipperboy24

07/25/2014 - 10:08 PM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 4961

votes: 38

Honestly the people that get screwed the most are the fans. Would suck if this drama drags out

realbull17

07/28/2014 - 12:42 AM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 2604

votes: 6

Matt Barnes said he'll boycott along with CP3.

FightOnRon

07/28/2014 - 11:05 AM PST

CTB MVP X2

Posts: 5212

Location: The Darkside

votes: 40

I made a comment that i would boycott too and CP3 and li'l Chris can come over and hang with me at my house,well Matt can come by too if he'd like,although I suspect he would rather hang out with some of my neighbors.

realbull17

07/28/2014 - 11:12 AM PST

CTB MVP X1

Posts: 2604

votes: 6

if you provide goodies (food) they'll come.

fray_27

07/28/2014 - 01:33 PM PST

Clipper 6th Man

Posts: 219

votes: 3

Is there a way to unlock people on this forum I accidentally blocked someone and can't find a way to unblock them